City have already sold two front-line strikers this year in Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez, and new boss Manuel Pellegrini is prepared to give Dzeko a fresh start after often being confined to substitute duty by predecessor Roberto Mancini.

However, he may change his mind if Napoli - who are also considering Fiorentina forward Stevan Jovetic - offer around £20m for the Bosnian star.

City are working on beefing up their attack and are eyeing Sevilla's Alvaro Negredo and Oscar Cardozo of Benfica, and have also been linked with Brazil international Fred.

Meanwhile, Mancini has claimed he still doesn't know why City sacked him in May, insisting his side played the best football in the Premier League for the past three years.